How to Be an Estate Planning Lawyer

Estate planning means taking care of legal issues related to real estate, bank accounts, life insurance policies, personal property and so on in the event that one dies.

An estate planning attorney helps clients make all the arrangements necessary to ensure their wishes are fulfilled and their loved ones will be taken care of in their absence. Regardless of age, people want to make sure they have everything taken care of in case they die. An estate planning attorney will present all the legal options to her clients and make sure she covers all issues. To have a career as an estate planning lawyer, you need to follow some years of study and take several difficult exams.

1. Get an undergraduate degree from a college or university. An Associate’s degree will not be enough. You will have to graduate with four years of study and obtain a Bachelor’s degree. Don’t worry too much about your major; just choose whatever suits you and get good grades. Your GPA will prove very important in determining whether you get into a law school or not.

2. Take the LSAT. The Law School Admissions Test evaluates your potential as a future law student and lawyer. People who take law school seriously will take several months to study for the test, enroll in prep courses and secure study materials. You can also find practice tests available online.

3. Plan in advance. Make a list of all the requirements to get into your desired law school and make sure you have the time to gather everything. Contact former teachers for letters of recommendation and carefully prepare your own letter of motivation.

4. Think about how you will finance your studies. Get a student loan or apply for a scholarship if you have excellent credentials.

5. Once enrolled in law school, you’ll have ahead of you three years of intense study. You will have to do a lot of reading and study countless cases as well as write numerous essays. The secret to surviving law school? Hard work.

6. Look for an estate planning attorney in your area and discuss the possibility of working in his office. If you get a job with an estate planning law firm, make sure to do your best and leave a good impression.

7. Graduate from law school and start studying for the bar exam. You will have a few weeks to review everything you’ve learned in three years, so get ready for some intense study. Invest in a bar review course to increase your chances of passing.

8. Once you are a licensed lawyer, go back to the estate planning attorney with whom you worked and discuss getting a full-time job. You might also try listing your name in the online database of the American Bar Association. Many potential clients use that resource to find an estate planning attorney.